Born in Crouch Hill, London, England. Gifted, dark-haired English beauty who appeared in some prestigious British productions (notably Lean's GREAT EXPECTATIONS, 1946 and as Ophelia in Olivier's 1948 HAMLET) before moving in 1950 to Hollywood with her husband, Stewart Granger. Simmons soon became a major Hollywood star, appearing opposite leading men including Richard Burton (THE ROBE, 1953), Marlon Brando (GUYS AND DOLLS, 1955), Paul Newman (UNTIL THEY SAIL, 1957), Kirk Douglas (SPARTACUS, 1960) and Gregory Peck (THE BIG COUNTRY, 1958). In 1960 Simmons divorced Granger and married Richard Brooks, who directed her and Burt Lancaster that same year in ELMER GANTRY, an acclaimed adaptation of the Sinclair Lewis novel. She subsequently appeared in mostly unexceptional films and began performing in high-profile TV productions (THE THORN BIRDS, INHERIT THE WIND) in the 1980s. She turned down the role of Jean Pargetter in the British TV series "As Time Goes By" (1992), but Judi Dench accepted the part. Simmons and Richard Kiley narrated the "Mysteries of the Bible" series for A&E from 1994, and she continues to appear in made-for-TV movies. Simmons was named to the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) in Queen Elizabeth II's 2003 New Year's Honours List.  Nominated for Supporting Actress 1948: HAMLET  Nominated for Actress 1969: THE HAPPY ENDING 2 nominations